Core Skills for Family Ministry:

developing key skills for church-based family ministry

Written by The Consultative Group on Ministry among Children and published by BRF, this is a modular training course for children’s and family work practitioners developed on the same principles as the Core Skills for Children’s Ministry modules.

The best selling book at the 2016 conference

2016 conference recommendation by Ian White, Val Mylechreest, Catherine Kyte and Sarah Smart

This foundational training book offers six stand-alone sessions on:

• Biblical, historical and contemporary understanding of family
• Family ministry today
• Seasons of family life
• Role of family relationships
• Family wellbeing and wholeness
• Faith in families

All the modules have been field-tested with participants from different denominations. Each module is creative, thought-provoking, interactive and designed to inspire and refresh children’s and family workers at all levels of expertise and experience.

Sue says… If you have used Core Skills for Children’s Ministry you will know what to expect from this book. Although an individual can work through the chapters, the opportunities for group work and discussion mean it is most appropriate for people to join together for a training session lasting about 2 hours for each session.

Intergenerational Christian formation

(Holly Catterton Allen, Christine Lawton Ross, IVP)

2016 conference recommendation by Terry Williams & Alan Charter

2014 conference recommendation by Ed Jones

Most churches and faith communities segment their ministries by age and generation. The kids go to children’s church, the teens go to youth group. Worship services are geared toward different generational preferences, and small groups gather people at the same life stage. In some congregations, people may never interact with those of other ages. But it was not always so. Throughout biblical tradition and the majority of history, communities of faith included people of all ages together in corporate worship, education and ministry. Offering a complete framework for intentional intergenerational Christian formation, this book provides a theoretical foundation, showing how learning and spiritual formation are better accomplished through intergenerational contexts. It is not just elders teaching youth; learning also takes place when adults discover fresh insights from children. Case studies of intergenerational congregations provide models for how a culture of intergenerationality can be created in local churches.

Why men hate going to church

(David Murrow)

2016 conference recommendation by Mark Chester & Tony Sharp

“Church is boring.” “It’s irrelevant.” “It’s full of hypocrites.” You’ve heard the excuses -now learn the real reasons men and boys are fleeing churches of every kind, all over the world. Christianity is the only world religion with a chronic shortage of men. David Murrow identifies the barriers to male participation, and explains why it’s so hard to motivate the men who do go to church. Then, he takes you inside several fast-growing congregations that are winning the hearts of men and boys. Why Men Hate Going to Church does not call men back to church – it calls the church back to men.

Blended: a call to reimagine our church family

(Eleanor Bird, BRF)

Church as we know it is changing. With conversations and initiatives bubbling up around how our churches can be truly intergenerational, functioning in close and loving community as the body of Christ, Eleanor speaks into the debate with a challenge to rethink our work with all ages from the ground up. She offers practical observations drawn from her experience in a local church context together with a biblically based framework for how this thinking can be taken forward in your church.

Rachel Turner (author and Hand in Hand speaker) says: In order for us to see nations changed, we need to see the full body of Christ rise up together across all ages, to walk and minister shoulder to shoulder. Blended invites us to see that it is not only necessary, but possible. No matter what size community or denomination we belong to, this book gives us ways of seeing and doing church together with a new heart that will reap great rewards for the kingdom.

Top tips on growing faith with families

(Pauline Burdett, Scripture Union)

2015 conference recommendation by Alan Charter

2014 conference recommendation by Carolyn Edwards & Alex Taylor

2012 conference recommendation by Lianne Smith and Andy Saunders

A short, readable guide to explore what the Bible says about growing faith with families and reaching out to families with the good news of Jesus. It’s packed with practical, fun ideas to strengthen or kick-start a family ministry.

Children, families and God

(Lynn Alexander, Evangelista Media)

2013 conference recommendation by Nick Jackson

Many churches are desperately searching for ways to stop the decline and involvement of young people in Kingdom advancement. You will learn: how Jesus redeemed family structures so they would become vehicles for Kingdom advancement; how to grow spirituality into lifelong personal faith; the 16 unhelpful beliefs we might hold, that, if addressed, might help children and families find Jesus and become disciples in great numbers; what whole family discipleship might look like; the 6 key principles—with practical applications—needed to train and equip believers in every church. You and your church can transform all generations into a powerful body for God’s glory and mission to bring Heaven to earth for those who need to know this most!

The impact of different cultures on family ministry

DEEPER FOR LEADERS

(Hosted by Olly Goldenberg, 2016 conference)

A panel led discussion.

Delegate rating 9/10

Seasons of family life

(Catherine Kyte, 2016 conference)

Explore the different seasons of life experienced by families and the role the church has to play in encouraging and supporting parents, carers and children as they encounter these times. An element of Core Skills for Family Ministry Unit 3.

Delegate rating 9/10

Role of family relationships

(Sarah Smart, 2016 conference)

How church might offer support to families to help alleviate a missing or distorted relationship. An element of Core Skills for Family Ministry Unit 4.

Delegate rating 9/10

A biblical understanding of families

(Ian White, 2016 conference)

Insight into the Biblical meaning of family. An element of Core Skills for Family Ministry Unit 1.

Delegate rating 7/10

Family ministry today

(Val Mylechreest, 2016 conference)

Explore the contemporary context of family life and how that may impact on opportunities for engagement with families. An element of Core Skills for Family Ministry Unit 2.

Delegate rating 7/10

Turning hearts

(Mark Chester, 2015 conference main stage session)

By turning the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, could we make people ready for God and change a nation?

Delegate rating 9/10

Top tips on growing faith with families

(Alan Charter, 2015 conference)

Looking at the roles of families and churches in how to nurture the faith of children. Plus tips to nurture the spiritual life of families through the Bible and prayer.

Delegate rating 8/10

What dads add

(Catherine Kyte, 2015 conference)

An interactive session to explore the role of dads in nurturing faith in their children, and how they may be supported in doing so. Also considering how church can offer role models for one-parent families.

Delegate rating 8/10

Dads as disciples

(Colin Bennett, 2015 conference)

A session just for men, discussing the challenge of making disciples of their sons and/or daughters. Exploring God’s plan, the spiritual challenge and some practical ideas.

Delegate rating 7/10